Line stretcher



Aug. 18, 1925.

E4.v D. KILCUP LINE sTRETcHER linea Aug. 22. 1924 N VEN TOR. D. Mmc/f:

ATTORNEY.

Patented l, 1925.

BENJAMIN D. KILGUP, OF ASTORIA., NEN YORK.

LINE STRET CHER.

Application filed August 22, 1924.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN D. KrLoUr,

a subject of the King of England, residing` at Astoria, in the county ofQueens and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Line Stretchers, of which the following is aspeciication.

This invention relates to line stretchers and more particularly to anovel and iinproved construction and arrangement for maintaining aclothes line taut when supporting considerable weight.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a line stretcherparticularly adapted for clothes lines wherein tension may be eX- ertedand maintained so that the line or cablewill operate etliciently overthe pulleys.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel and improvedstretching;4 device including a plurality of line spacers, constructedand arranged to prevent the sagging of the top and bottom lines whensupporting a considerable weight. Z5 To enable others -skilled in theart to fully comprehend the underlying` features of my invention thatthey may embody the same in the various modifications in structure andrelation contemplated, drawings depicting a preferred form have beenannexed as a part of this disclosure and in such drawings, similarreference characters denote corresponding parts throughout all theviews, of which,

Figure 1 is a view showingr my invention as applied to a conventionalclothes line.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, side view of the stretcher.

Figure 3 is a plan view.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 2.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters'designate correspending parts throughout all the views, 5 designatesthe wall of a building adjacent window sash and 6 a clothes line supportbetween which the clothes line is attached. The clothes line 7 passesover a pulley 8 and said clothes line is trained over a pulley 9adjustably and rotatably mounted in a sliding frame 10. The frame andpulley is supported on a stationary fra-me composed of parallel, sidemembers 11. 12, which are connected at their front and rear ends andSerial N0. 733,623.

formed with an upper and lower guide loop 13, 14, through which the linepasses and is guided over the pulley 9. The top edges of the sidemembers 11, 12, are provided with notches 15 which are adapted toreceive a catch or lock 16, consisting of an open loop, the ends 17 ofwhich are pivotally mounted in extension eyes 18, formed with thesliding frame 10, above referred to. The frame is provided with studs19, 20, which engage one end of a tension spring 21, the opposite end ofsaid spring being adapted to-bear against the arms of the catch andretain the samev in their locked position in the notches.

A lever 23 pivotally mounted as at 24 on a connecting1 stud 25 at theopposite ends of the members 11, 12, constituting the stationary frame,is connected by a pair of tension rods 26, the opposite ends of whichare fastened to the studs 19, 20. A supporting eye 27 is providedwhereby the stretcher may be attached to the wall of a building` asshown and above described. The stationary frame is provided with anextension 28 to which the end of a link chain 29 is attached, theopposite end of the link chain beingV adapted to be held by one of thestuds., above referred to. A plurality of line spacers 30, preferablyclosed loops or rings, are positioned on the line 7 so that they may bemoved out with said line to space the upper and lower strands as shownby Figure 1. When not in use, the line spacers are y@gathered and heldbv the link chain, which passes therethrough.

From the above description.. it will be seen that since the adjusting'frame 10, which carries the pulley`9, may be moved by tension exerted bythe tension rods and lever, the line may be maintained in its properposition with respect to the pulleys at all times regardless of theweight carried thereby. When it is desired to release the tension byraising; the catch from the notches against the resistance of the spring21, the sliding and adjustable frame 10 is released.

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree ofparticularity, I realize that in practice various alterations thereinmay be made. l therefore reserve the rigght and privilege of changing`the form of the details of construction or otherwise altering thearrangement of the CJR the frame and means for locking the said frame inits adjusted position.

2. A line stretcher of the class described comprising a line supporthaving line guiding loops, a slidable frame carrying a pulley over whichthe line is guided and movable with respect to the support, a leverpivotcd il" to the support, tension rods. connecting the lever andmovable frame and resilient locking means for retaining the frame in itsadjusted position.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature. BENJAMIN D. KILCUP. [Ls]

